POST #5

Pirate Pad

http://piratepad.net/

Pirate pad is an online notepad which allows multiple people to simultaneously collaborate on a document, working on and editing it in real time.

To use it is quite simple. First you enter the website by typing the URL into the address bar. Then you click enter and your own pirate pad starts up with its very own customized link at the top. From here you can type whatever it is you wish.

To invite others in to edit the particular pirate pad, all one needs to do is ensure the other types in the customized URL of the pirate pad into their own browser. From here they will then join, and collaborative work they do is just input the customized link on the particular pirate pad being worked on. Different users input will be distinguished by different colored highlighter accompanying the text they type.

In this particular example, the text Ray has typed in is highlighted in the color green whilst the text Bob has typed in is highlighted in the color blue.

Positive points about this include the fact that this helps make group work a lot easier. Here, students can be assigned to work collaboratively on a particular writing task. Creative writing can occur, and the fact that each person’s input is differentiated by a different color makes it easy for a teacher to see who within a group has been doing their fair share of work.

Aside from this, students can also do collaborative notes here, as students can be made to write notes on a particular topic. With each student working contributing their own perspective, what can be the end result is a piece of reflective work featuring input from differing perspectives.

POST #4

CLIPGENERATOR 

http://www.clipgenerator.com/ 

CLIPGENERATOR is a free online program which allows you to create simple video clips which play to many popular songs.

To use this is a simple 3-step process. 

1)      Pick the background track you want from the selection available

 

2)      Upload images which are relevant. In this step you can also add text for captions

 

3)      Click next to create the finished product (Which you can also download)

 

*Note that at any time, you can click back and make a modification

CLIPGENERATOR can be used in a multitude of ways. On one hand, it can be used by teachers to make an interesting video clip so as to set the scene for what students are to learn. For example, Lady Gaga’s song “Bad Romance” can be played behind a slideshow of images relating to William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” as shown in the steps above.

Consequently, CLIPGENERATOR can be use utilized to help “jazz things up” especially for students who might initially not be so interested in Shakespeare. Granted, this can be used to spice up anything, or can be used to help add even more “dazzle” to something already interesting.

This can also be used as a fun and creative way to conduct formative assessment on students. Here for example, students could be asked to create a small video clip using images which are of relevance to a text being studied. As it’s a relatively quick thing to do, it is feasible that within a class, students can create one of these mini videos so as to display to the class what they think are the key concepts of a particular text. This especially has a lot of appeal to visual and creative learners, as here things get hands on as students selectively choose images to feature in the video clip. Furthermore, group work can also be implemented here too, resulting in similar effects.

POST #3

Garfield Comic Creator

http://www.garfield.com/fungames/comiccreator.html

This is an interactive webpage in which you can create your own Garfield comic strip.

It is easily used by following the basics steps on the left side of the webpage as shown below.

This can be used in a classroom setting in where students can make humorous comic strips. Panel-by-panel, students can make a comic by incorporating characters and dialog which help to make a story.

Positive points about this include the fact that is simple. Here animated characters are already pre-drawn so it becomes a matter of “dragging-and-dropping”. This comes with the added benefit of less time being consumed with the drawing side of things, and more time being focused on the text side of things. Additionally, those who do not have such great artistic skills can produce great works, and those with already good artistic skills can make something which appears professional. A minor issue with this could include the brevity of the comics, although this can be seen as a positive as instead it forces students to be concise.

Aside from this, flexibility with regards to content can occur, so for example students can create speech bubbles with dialog that contains various literary techniques such as rhyme, alliteration, assonance in amongst the many others. As such, poetry can be implemented here, in where one potential task could involve making Garfield’s speech bubbles only be allowed to contain rhyming sonnets. Furthermore if one would like, one could play around with conventions in where  the featured characters are their usual selves, or are completely different to the way they are characterized on the actual comic strip.

This can help me teach various things such as how to write a comic strip, and would be particularly relevant to any work where humor could be of relevance. It can also be be applied to group learning situations too as students could be made to work on a collaborative comic, or students in a class could share their comic ideas.

Consequently, this helps address Outcome 3 from the syllabus in where technology is utilized to help students learn. On top of this, students get an opportunity to make their own version of popular culture as they have the chance to make their favorite fat feline do things they want.

POST #2

Quibblo Quiz Creator

http://www.quibblo.com/

This is a website which allows you to create your own multiple-choice quiz.

To use it is quite simple as you create an account and then create a survey by clicking the create tab. In doing this, you input all the questions you want as well as both the correct and incorrect answers. You then continue to create the survey and you end up with a link that can link anyone to your quiz.

This can be used for English as seen in the mini-quiz sample quiz I have made which is linked below.

http://upload.quibblo.com/quiz/gk3Tw2W/English-Quiz

This can be then used as a quick formative assessment along any unit of work, and it is this flexibility which is a real draw card. It becomes really helpful when you wish to highlight to students key concepts within any particular piece of work, in the way by quizzing them with it.

Group work could also be fostered with this in a way that a class is made to create their own quizzes to test their own knowledge on a given topic, as well as the knowledge of fellow students. Here, reinforcement of the correct answers can be made clear, as students will need to be aware of which answer is correct, and which answers are incorrect. Furthermore if students are made to construct a quiz, students will need to think up of why particular answers are correct and others are incorrect thus, the idea is that students will know more so why the correct answer is the correct answer.

Other good things about this include the fact that it saves on time and paper as it is quick to create and distribute a quiz amongst the class. Furthermore, it allows for quick “pop-quizzes” which allow for rewards and positive reinforcement for students to study, particularly if rewards are made up for grabs. Time pressure can also be added so as to allow for effective and efficient teaching and time management. It also allows teachers to see instant results upon completion of the quiz, and if issues arise such as a significant number of students getting a particular question wrong, then this can be addressed immediately.

POST #1

Tagxedo: A stylish Word Cloud Creator

http://www.tagxedo.com/

Tagxedo is a “word cloud” creator, which can serve as a great way to create artistic brainstorms.

To use it is quite simple as first you insert text into the input section. This can be done either by inserting a link to a blog, a twitter account, a website, an RSS feed, etc. Following this themes and shapes are selected Then after clicking the submit button, a word cloud in a given shape will be automatically generated.

Positive points about this include the fact that this can be used fairly easy in English as key concepts from texts can be drawn out fairly quickly. This is because important key words are made more prominent whilst other points will be made visible in the background. It appeals greatly to visual learners as the words in bold are they key concepts, and shapes further add to the aesthetics of the work itself.

This can also be applied to group learners as input could be in the form of essays they all did in where a word cloud deriving from their combined works can be created. Here key points between all those who provided input can then become highlighted, thus making it easier for students to remember.

This tool can especially come in handy either at the start of a unit when brainstorming occurs or at the end of a unit just before a summative assessment when we need to bring it all back to basics. Furthermore, if proper studying has occurred, come assessment time, then it is very well feasible that the memorization of the key words should lead to the triggering of remembering other concepts key to answering a question.